Types of Skirts

How many types of skirts are there?

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There are at least twenty classic skirt types. Having some familiarity with them can help you understand which types work best for your shape, and help you choose new styles to try. 

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What are the different styles of skirt?

Below we cover the classic skirt styles: the Pencil, A-Line, Mini, Denim, Ballerina, Tulle, Pleated, Box Pleat, Circular, Cowl, Bubble, Asymmetrical, Tiered, Tulip, Wrap, Yoke, Straight, Panel, and Flared. 

The Pencil Skirt 

The pencil skirt is cut in two or three panels and is fitted from the waist to the hem. Your choices depend on how structured or flowy you prefer your skirt to be, as well as on weather conditions. During winter months you can opt for a lined wool pencil skirt worn with thermal tights and boots. During the summer you can opt for a less structured fabric to style with a tee and sandals. The pencil skirt (called jupe crayon in French) is an essential staple in a French woman’s closet. This is because of its versatility, comfort, and elegance. We stock a selection of feminine, French and vintage-inspired skirt collection (which tends to sell out as soon as we have a drop).

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The A-Line Skirt 

The A-line skirt is a true classic; it is flattering on many body types, and it is extremely versatile. If you lay it flat on the floor it resembles the letter A. The French call them jupe trapèze due to its resemblance to that geometrical shape. Lengths go anywhere from just above-the-knee to floor sweeping lengths. They have either zipper or button closures and sometimes we find them with pockets!

This classic skirt flatters many body types as it hugs the smallest part of the waist and gradually flares out. This creates a well balanced, feminine silhouette. Depending on your preference, you can choose a style to either highlight or conceal your legs. All in all, the A-line can be dressed up or down and it is a must in every French woman's closet. (The panel, flare, gusset, and fit and flare skirts can be added to this category provided the pattern is adjusted accordingly).

The Mini Skirt

The mini skirt is generally cut anywhere from high or mid-thigh to a length above the knee. Depending on the fabric, cut, and fit, it can act as a statement piece all on its own. Though less versatile than the A-line and pencil skirts, the mini can be styled with a variety of heeled shoes and flats. 

The beauty of the mini skirt is found in two things: in its simplicity, and in its fabrication. An ill-fitting mini is much less forgiving than an ill-fitting A-line. But if the skirt is well made and of good quality, it can be as daring as it can be elegant and tasteful. As with all fashion items, it is important to choose a mini that enhances your personal style and your silhouette. 

The Denim Skirt

The denim skirt can come in any shape, but due to the textile's history it deserves its own category. Denim is a heavy duty cotton twill created to withstand wear and tear associated with work. While the textile was originally invented in India, it appears the name Denim is a derivation from the French "de Nîmes", the city where the textile underwent a reinvention.

Denim that came from Serge de Nîmes was softer and just as durable as its Indian counterpart (the dungri - the origin of the word dungarees). Today, denim is ubiquitous and its iterations are endless both in popular and high end design. At Amantine we are constantly on the lookout for vintage-inspired, feminine denim skirts that lean more towards the romantic and soft-girl side. 

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The Ballerina Skirt 

The ballerina represents not only ethereal beauty and femininity, but also strength and talent. Serena Williams is known to be a fan of wearing ballerina skirts for tennis matches. In ballet, it is usually thigh, or ankle-length and made of layers of tulle to highlight the dancer's movements. Elsewhere it is usually knee-length or shorter and can be paired with heels or flats. 

Ballerina skirts can be a statement piece and worn as a fun and cheerful outfit. To dress it up you can pair it with a blouse and heels, or to dress it down you can choose a classy tee and designer sneakers for a casual look. The ballerina always adds a touch of whimsy and playfulness to every outfit-of-the-day.

The Box Pleat Skirt

The box pleat skirt(jupe plissée in French) has much charm and elegance. Perhaps it is the pleats opening and closing in movement, adding an elegant kinetic interest to what would otherwise be a simple A-line. People of all ages wear it too: think of a school uniform, or of a skirt-suit worn at the office. It offers you an ample range to fit your shape and style.
A box pleat skirt can have many or few pleats which can be deep or shallow. They are made by folding the textile inwards and pressing the folds. The fold stitch running up to the waist can be a special visual feature of the design. Whether you dress the box pleat up or down, you are sure to have a comfortable and feminine outfit-of-the-day. (Slight variations in construction yield the broomstick and pleated skirt styles).

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The Circle Skirt

We now understand the essential features of the classics: the A-line, pencil, and box pleat. The circle skirt is roughly the same in shape but it has significantly more flow and bounce due to the cut. Think of a circular piece of fabric (with a hole in the middle for the waist). As you wear this skirt, the outer rim will form soft waves around your knees or ankles. And as you move, it will have a graceful flow and bounce. 

For DIYers this is the ideal way to start sewing your own skirt. Its construction is basically two half circles sown at both sides. You can easily find skirt patterns online to help you with your DIY skirt project. The circle skirt (jupe cercle in French) is as feminine as it is versatile and it makes it impossible not to want to twirl in it. We always try to keep a curated selection of season appropriate, vintage-inspired circle skirts in Amantine's collection!

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The Cowl Skirt

A cowl is a feature obtained by draping and tucking the fabric at the waistline to create several wavy drapes (cowls) which taper as they fall. The skirt tends to have a high waistline to emphasize the drape and it is cut anywhere from mid-thigh to ankle length. Often soft materials such as silk, cotton, linen, or synthetic blends are used for the cowls to drape gracefully. The Bubble and Tulip skirt are similar in shape but different in pattern and construction. 

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The Straight Skirt

The straight skirt is designed to cling straight down from the waist in a clean line. It is devoid of pleats, flare, and fullness which makes it different from the skirts we've covered so far. The straight skirt has the allure of the A-line and the pencil skirt except that many would agree that it offers a special kind of elegance. It is a very versatile option to keep in your closet as it can be styled in a very modest or fashion forward style.

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The Wrap Skirt

Wrap skirts have been depicted in art throughout history. As the name implies, a wrap skirt is secured by wrapping and fastening it with buttons and/or by knotting its tie around the waist. The wrap skirt can be fancy or plain. Either way - the best part is its adjustable fit! 

It is also a great option for DIYers looking to get started sewing their clothes. Since its introduction in the 70's, the concept of the wrap dress and wrap skirt has become more and more popular. It is easy to see why: its femininity and comfort make it a great choice for many occasions.

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The Asymmetrical

This skirt is a good choice when you want a touch of drama in your outfit-of-the-day. As the name implies, it not only says goodbye to symmetry, but depending on the design, it can break all the guidelines we've seen for the construction of the skirts above. For instance, it can be made of panels cut at different angles.
Asymmetric designs can be as audacious as the girl who knows how to wear them. And that is the key to this type of skirt: finding the right balance for it to work with your shape. Another lovely aspect of this skirt is that, depending on your mood, you can create a unique, unrepeatable ootd. We also include the Handkerchief skirt in this category.

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The Yoke Skirt 

If you look at the skirt to the right, you'll see that it has an "elongated waist panel", below which are other panels cut in a different pattern. That elongated portion is in fact the yoke. A yoke is normally constructed by doubling a layer of fabric for structure. Think of a man's shirt: along the top shoulder the shirt looks thicker because the two layers of fabric create a yoke to withstand more strain.

The yoke skirt uses this feature to add structure around the stomach area. The panels sewn below the yoke, on the other hand, are more decorative than structural. The general shape of a yoke skirt can be that of an A-line, pleated, pencil, and straight skirt, provided it has the yoke portion. In addition to the structural element, this skirt type adds visual interest and detail to your wardrobe and outfit.

The Tiered Skirt

As its name implies, the tiered skirt has several bands of fabric sewn at different intervals, like a tiered cake. The beauty of the garment lies in the type of color, fabric, proportion and notions for embellishment or simplicity. They can be knee-length or longer and their fullness can be that of the A-line all the way to that of the circle skirt. This type of skirt can be very feminine, whimsical, and fun to wear, as fun as they can be for a DIY skirt project.

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We've now covered the majority of all classic skirt styles. Knowing the basic details of each of these skirts will help you become a more savvy shopper. 

So instead of looking for a "long skirt" you'll know with more precision what that "long skirt" (or short skirt) is actually called, how it is constructed, and how it could potentially work with your figure. Moreover, if you've been wanting to sew your own skirt: now you know what pattern to search for!

As you try different styles be sure to keep a mental note as to which suits your personal style. 

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We hope you found this guide useful and we invite you to peruse Amantine's collection of feminine skirts, romantic dresses, and French Inspired clothing. Our mission is to curate small, beautifully designed, & well-made collections to spark your dreams of travel, culture, & adventure.

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